Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Esequiel D. Moya Jr., 36, Bluffton, charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person less than 18 years of age, operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction for the same offense, and operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body, all Level 6 felonies. Bond continued at $55,000.
On July 21, 2021, Moya was reportedly passed out behind the wheel of his 1997 Dodge Dakota in the 200 block of South Morgan Street. He was revived by officers with the use of Narcan. Allegedly his blood tested positive for fentanyl.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Braden Lee Phillips, 20, Ossian, charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender.
On July 7, while monitoring traffic on Jefferson Street at LaFever Street in Ossian, an Ossian police officer spotted a southbound Honda minivan with an improperly displayed license plate and fell in behind it. The officer observed in his report that the van made a quick right turn onto Norwalt Street, then a quick right turn into the alley that parallels the Ossian Post Office. Then made a quick right turn onto Ogden and then another right turn back onto LaFever.
The officer believed the driver of the vehicle was attempting to avoid being pulled over.
The officer lit up the emergency lights of his patrol vehicle and the van pulled over.
While speaking with the driver, identified as Bryshon Lockett, 23, Ossian, the officer noticed an odor of raw marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle.
The officer searched the vehicle and allegedly located two plastic bags of a green leafy substance with the odor and appearance of marijuana inside a bag in the vehicle that also contained personal items belonging to Phillips.
Lockett has an initial hearing set for July 21 on charges of knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle while never having received a driver’s license, a Class C misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle without insurance, a Class A misdemeanor; and improper display of a license plate, a Class C infraction.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Hilario A. Rios, 52, Fort Wayne, charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body, both Class C misdemeanors; and improper display of headlights, a Class C infraction. Released on his own recognizance. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender.
A sheriff’s deputy was patrolling northbound on Ind. 1 at 12:23 a.m. July 14 when he saw an oncoming vehicle with only one working headlight. He turned his patrol vehicle around and pulled the 2006 Buick over on Ind. 1 between 800N and 700N.
The deputy observed that Rios smelled of alcohol, appeared intoxicated and failed field sobriety tests, but he blew just a 0.19 percent alcohol concentration equivalency on a Breathalyzer test.
The deputy had Rios perform a SoToxa oral fluid test and Rios allegedly tested positive for the presence of marijuana and amphetamines.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Karen S. Almeida, 52, Bluffton, charged with driving while suspended with a prior conviction for the same offense, a Class A misdemeanor.
A sheriff’s deputy was exiting the Wells County Jail July 5 when he happened to spot a 2007 Hyundai sport utility vehicle driving into the parking lot designated for the public at the jail. He also noticed that Almeida was the one driving the vehicle and recalled having dealt with her earlier when he arrested her for driving while suspended.
The deputy spoke with Almeida who allegedly responded that the re-eligibility date for reinstatement of her license was that day, July 5. However, upon further investigation, the deputy determined the re-eligibility date for her license reinstatement was in actuality Dec. 31, 2024.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Alex Edward Bates, 34, whose address is listed as the Steuben County Jail, Angola, charged with two counts of counterfeiting and one count of theft with a prior conviction for the same or a similar offense, all Level 6 felonies. Bond continued at $10,000. Larry Mock appointed public defender.
An Ossian couple had a used Samsung S10 phone for sale on Facebook Marketplace Dec. 14, 2010. They were contacted by Bates who arranged to meet with the male half of the couple in the parking lot of the Ossian Subway restaurant and pay $300 for the phone.
Bates reportedly gave the man $300 in the form of two $100 bills and five $20 bills. The man accepted the cash, handed Bates the phone and the two parted ways.
It was not until the next day that the couple discovered that the two $100 bills were allegedly counterfeit.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Casey Esther Morlan, 26, Bluffton, charged with one count of possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
On July 7, Bluffton police received a report of a smell of marijuana in the air around a residence in the 300 block of West South Street.
Officers responded and when Morlan answered the door of the residence, they reportedly noticed a smell of raw marijuana coming from the residence.
The investigating officer asked Morlan when was the last time she smoked marijuana. She reportedly replied two hours earlier.
After gaining consent to search the residence, the investigating officer allegedly located a marijuana cigarette, a small plastic bag with buds of marijuana, rolling papers and a grinder in the garage.
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Brooklyn Madison Dean, 25, Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but two days suspended — credited as time served, and placed on probation for 363 days.
Ordered to not possess or use firearms and pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of driving while suspended with a prior conviction, a Class A misdemeanor, was dismissed.
While monitoring traffic on Ind. 1 June 28, a sheriff’s deputy spotted a 2010 Nissan Rogue with no tag light. He pulled the vehicle over on Ind. 1 just north of the main entrance to the Bluffton Walmart Supercenter.
The deputy determined that Dean had a suspended driver’s license. A passenger in her Rogue, identified as Joseph T. Anderson, 28, Fort Wayne, also did not possess a driver’s license. The deputy further observed in his report to the court that the interior of the Rogue smelled of marijuana. Anderson would allegedly admit to having marijuana in his pocket. Charges against him are pending.
A search of the vehicle reportedly turned up a Taurus G2C 9mm handgun in the center console of the vehicle. Dean did not have a license to possess a handgun.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Ridge Mason Borne, 20, rural Ossian, charged with three counts of unlawful use of 911 service, all Class A misdemeanors. Bond continued at $1,500 Pauper status denied.
On July 3, a sheriff’s deputy responded to Borne’s residence on 450E after the 911 emergency dispatch received three 911 calls placed from a cell phone that was being tracked to the address.
When the deputy arrived, he reportedly got no response to knocking on several doors. He then noticed through a window a male — later identified as Borne — asleep on a sofa in the living room of the residence and was able to awaken Borne and get him to come to the door.
Borne then allegedly admitted to the deputy that he had placed the 911 calls from a cell phone he had that had discontinued service. He reportedly claimed he made the calls to get a law enforcement official to respond to the residence so he could use that law enforcement official’s phone to contact a friend who had borrowed Borne’s car. Borne wanted to let his friend know when he, Borne, needed the car returned.
When the deputy reportedly explained to Borne that was illegal use of 911, Borne reportedly became angry and ordered the deputy off the property.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for William Mitchell Austin, 45, Warsaw, charged with four counts of intimidation wherein the threat made is to commit a forcible felony, all Level 6 felonies. Bond continued at $20,000. Allison Sprunger appointed public defender.
Austin reportedly wanted a relationship with a Bluffton woman who was already in a relationship with another man. In October of 2020, he reportedly contacted the woman and her significant other and threatened to harm them both, burn down their house, vandalize their vehicles and kill their dog.
While the investigating officer was interviewing the woman, Austin reportedly called the woman on her cellphone. The officer asked the woman to place her phone on speaker so he, the officer, could listen in on the conversation.
Austin allegedly grew angrier as the conversation with the woman continued, and allegedly in the presence of the officer, restated his earlier threats. He apparently was unaware that a law enforcement officer was listening in on the conversation.
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James W. Sanders Jr., 52, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 180 days in the Wells County Jail, with all but 10 days suspended, and placed on probation for 355 days.
Ordered to pay court costs and probation fees.
Sanders is charged with entering the apartment of a female acquaintance June 19 at Spring Wayne apartments and calling her derogatory name and throwing a cat at her during an argument.
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Shane Winans, 43, Ossian, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 180 days in the Wells County Jail, all suspended, and placed on probation for one year.
Ordered to pay court costs and probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, was dismissed.
On June 28, an Ossian police officer performed a random check of a license plate on a vehicle ahead of him on 1000N west of 450E and discovered that the registered owner did not have a valid driver’s license in Indiana.
The officer pulled the vehicle and spoke with the driver — who was not the registered owner — and reported smelling a strong odor of raw marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Winans was the driver. The registered owner was the passenger and she allegedly told the officer that there might be drug paraphernalia in a backpack in the vehicle.
The officer investigated and located a bag of a green leafy plant material with the odor and appearance of marijuana, two grinders, a large glass bong, two glass pipes, a plastic bag with a mostly used marijuana wax container, a butane canister and a metal pick with wax residue on it.
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Conditional discharge entered for Michael Parks Jr., 20, Warren, charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; and minor in possession of alcohol, a Class C misdemeanor.
The duration of deferred proceedings is one year. If Parks follows all of the conditions of the Wells County Probation Department, the charges against him will be dismissed.
Ordered to pay $100 in fees.
On May 30, while patrolling southbound on Main Street near Division Street, a Bluffton police officer spotted a vehicle exit the Airplane Express and Service station with no headlights on. The officer pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Main and Wabash streets.
While speaking with the driver, identified as Parks, the officer noticed a case of Mike’s Hard Lemonade — an alcoholic beverage — in the back seat. Since Parks was a minor, the officer asked him if there was anything else illegal in the vehicle. Parks allegedly handed the officer a grinder and a small plastic bag that contained two marijuana cigarettes.
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Sandra D. Manns, 53, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but 38 days suspended — credited as time served — and ordered to pay court costs of $185. Placed on non-reporting probation for 327 days. Ordered to pay probation fees.
As part of a plea agreement, one count of residential entry, a Level 6 felony, was dismissed.
Manns was charged with entering the Bluffton residence of an acquaintance Aug. 21, 2021, without the residents’ permission and while they were not home.
She reportedly left behind a note stating that she had entered the residence to leave some items. A neighbor also allegedly witnessed Manns enter the residence.
Wells Circuit Court
Civil Cases
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Shaletta Blanton, Bluffton, and Robert F. Russell, Fort Wayne.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Carl Isch, rural Bluffton, and Cassondra Isch, Arcadia.
Complaints for payment filed by SAC Finance, Vernon Hills, Ill., against Gary T. Tidwell, Ossian, $11,592.98; Kevin James Feemster, Van Buren, $12,023.01.
Marriage Licenses
Rheann Noelle Weaver, 28, Bluffton, and Bobby Jerome Mays, 40, Gallatin, Tenn.
Courtney Mykal Snyder, 21, Ossian, and Matthew Wayne Pilling, 21, Ossian.
